Harry creates athletics history

WHILE the athletics world continues to worship Usain Bolt, Loughborough’s Harry Aikines-Aryeetey is leading a group of young British sprinters who may be able to challenge the world’s fastest man in the future.

WHILE the athletics world continues to worship Usain Bolt, Loughborough’s Harry Aikines-Aryeetey is leading a group of young British sprinters who may be able to challenge the world’s fastest man in the future.

Last weekend 20-year-old Harry made British athletics history by becoming the first athlete in the country ever to win international gold at major championships at youth, junior and U23 levels, and he could face Bolt at Crystal Palace today (Friday).

Having qualified quickest in the 100metres at the European U23 championships in Lithuania the Loughborough resident led a British 1-2-3 in the final clocking 10.15secs ahead of Leevan Yearwood and Rion Pierre.

“I thought I was in with a good chance of a medal but with that situation comes its own pressures,” Aikines-Aryeetey beamed. “It’s hard because then you have expectations you have to fill.

“The time was OK but medals are more important. It was a season’s best but it was definitely not a perfect race as I had a dreadful start but this is what happens in the finals of championships. Often you’ll run better in the semi-finals. I was just really happy to get my medal.

“The last time I won one was back in 2006 and after missing 2007 through injury it’s a great feeling to get this European medal.

“It’s always nice making history and it took me back to that day in 2005 when I was the first person to win the 100m, 200m double at the Youth Games.”

After winning the 2005 World Youth and 2006 World Junior Championships Harry was named BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year and the IAAF’s Rising Star of the Year.

But in 2007 he was diagnosed with a spinal problem forcing him out of the sport for a year and is only now coming back into prominence.

But further disappointment came just two weeks ago when the University student was only fifth in the UK Championships.

“That was a little bit disappointing because I was expecting to be more in the mix,” Harry admitted. “But unfortunately I was violently ill in the week before. I had recovered but I think having been so unwell took it out on me.”

“You have to prove yourself whatever you do and that’s what made winning in Lithuania so special as I was representing everyone and made everyone who was supporting me proud.”

Now Harry is hoping to be named in the 4x100m relay team for the World Championships.

“I’ll just happy to be part of it as I’m probably not quite there yet to compete in the individual events,” he said. “But the way I am going I should be clocking quick times at the end of the year.

“You look at the athletes I’m going to be running against at Crystal Palace this weekend and there’s some great names (including Bolt).

“Anybody who can do it in that field should be able to qualify for a World Championship final.

“We have at least 10 sprinters in Britain who have the qualifications to go really far in athletics.”